Aberdeen hoping to reward fans by finishing season on a high
Aberdeen assistant manager Tony Docherty hopes there is a mutual appreciation between players and fans on Sunday to mark another memorable season.
The Dons have staggered over the line following a long campaign that started in Europe in early July but they again managed to push Celtic for the Ladbrokes Premiership title until springtime.
Aberdeen's hopes of improving on last season's 75-point haul ended with a home defeat by Hearts on Thursday and Docherty is eager to ensure their fans are rewarded when they close their campaign against Ross County.
"The fans have been fantastic," Docherty said. "Any success we have had in our time at this club the fans have been absolutely pivotal and I would love Sunday to be the day where we put on a performance and get three points for the fans to say thank you for being with us all season.
"Hopefully they will show their appreciation for the players, it's been a long campaign for them. They came back on June 15 and worked all the way through.
"So hopefully it's a case of both of us showing our appreciation for each other but never underestimate how important the Aberdeen fans are."
Aberdeen are hopeful Willo Flood will shake off a knock to feature but they will again be without strikers Simon Church (ankle) and Adam Rooney (thigh).
Ross County assistant manager Billy Dodds will not let their post-split disappointment detract from their best season.
But Dodds has challenged his players to finish their campaign on a high with victory over Aberdeen.
County finished in the top six for the first time and clinched their first major honour with a League Cup final triumph over Hibernian.
But they were consigned to sixth spot on Wednesday following a 3-1 home defeat by Motherwell.
Despite impressive points at Celtic Park and Tynecastle, they finished last in the three-horse race for fourth spot but Dodds is able to look at the bigger picture.
"We would have loved to have got fifth but it wasn't to be," he said.
"But it's satisfaction overall. Sometimes you can get caught up in detail, every coaching staff will do that and we are no different because there have been a few disappointments.
"Overall there has been improvement, we have won a cup, a major trophy for the first time which was excellent, and finished top six.
"Sometimes you can get caught up in it but sometimes you have to look in from the outside and think, 'do you know what, it wasn't a bad season overall'."
County left themselves too much to do on Wednesday night after conceding two first-half goals against Motherwell.
Dodds added: "We are looking for a reaction to make sure we finish the season strongly."
David Goodwillie drops out of the squad as the loan striker cannot face his parent club.
Defender Richard Foster (groin) and forward Craig Curran (concussion) remain sidelined.
Source: PAR
